Pam Moreside's Blog

Home Sellers Top Questions About Home Staging

Pam Moreside (Seize the Day - Rent to Own) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:02:49 -0700

great information Cindy - thanks for putting it so succinctly! And those are definitely the questions we hear most often.

Via Cindy Bryant~Houston's Home Staging & Professional Home Stagers~RVP RESA~ASHSR (Redesign Etc.~Specialist in Staging Vacant Properties.):

There is so much information on home staging, that home sellers are on overload. With advice coming from all kinds of sources and areas of the country. Yes, it is confusing, where do you start?   If you watch tv, you may get the impression you can have your home staged for under $2000. Or another show may stage a home for around $20,000.   Big difference! Another show has strangers coming to your house picking it apart, to the point that you're thinking, no way am I going to let someone do that to my home. You can read articles or books on the internet from people that may be experts or just people with an opinion. You can also read a book on "How to Cut Hair", but would you actually trust yourself to cut your hair or someone else's? I wouldn't! So, where do you start? Sure, you have questions who wouldn't.

Here are a few questions home sellers have when thinking about staging their homes.

1) How much does it cost? Reasonable question, as a matter of fact it's the #1 question. It's the big mystery. This is why. I wish I could say every home stager could give you a standard answer, but we can't. Every stager should be their own business entity, and provide different services. Some charge an hourly rate, by the square foot, per room, a percentage of the list price or a flat fee. As every property is different, we really need to see the home to assess it and give you a solid number. Some stagers can estimate it, but shouldn't be held to that number until the property is viewed. There are too many variables that go into it. Is is vacant? Do furniture and accessories need to be brought in? Or is it occupied, and you just need a redesign of existing furnishings? These are just a couple of examples.

2) Who pays for the staging? The 2nd most popular question. The home seller is ultimately responsible for staging services.

3) Why doesn't my Realtor pay for home staging, they are making the commission? Again, ultimately a homeowner is responsible for staging costs. Some, but not all real estate agents will pay for a Home Staging Consultation, as a value-added service, but the actual costs associated with staging (furniture rental, actual hands-on staging) is paid for by the home seller. It is not the responsiblity of a real estate agent to pay for home staging costs.

4) Can I pay at closing? This is up to the stager. Most, do not do this as we do not know if a property will be on the market for 1 day or 3 months. Again, we all do it a little differently, some ask for 1/2 upfront, and some charge a monthly fee.

5) What do you do? Again, each home stager is their own entity. Some offer redesigns only, some offer accessories only, and some offer furniture and accessories. Some don't have the inventory to do a vacant home so they will have to use a third party source, and some use their own inventory. Different services can be offered, such as paint color consultations, personal shopping, organizing, curb appeal, some recommendations on cost-effective cosmetic changes such as flooring, counters, lights, fixtures, etc. The ultimate goal is to help a seller get their home sold faster and in the most cost effective manner.

6) How long does it take? It depends on how much you want done and to what extent. It can take a few hours or a few days, or maybe longer if there are some cosmetic changes that need to be taken care of.

7) When should I have my home staged? As soon as you decide to sell. Call a professional home stager and get a Home Staging Consultation. Once necessary recommendations are completed from your stager's list, your house is ready to be listed. Don't make the mistake of putting up that "For Sale" sign in the front yard before your home is ready. The first 20 days a home is listed will be when it will get the most interest and traffic. Make sure your house is show ready.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to provide solutions to getting your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation. Please visit our website for more information. We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area League City Home Staging.

Areas Served: Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood. And all areas down to Galveston Island.

Home Staging: The Inexpensive Investment with the Big Return

Pam Moreside (Seize the Day - Rent to Own) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:57:33 -0800

Home Staging has become the hottest new trend in Real Estate sales and marketing tactics across the country and Nanaimo is getting on board. TV shows such as "Buy Me", "House Hunters", and "Sell This House" have piqued our interest as we watch people around the world transform their dull and dated homes into classy, modern charmers that sell quickly and for top dollar. But is all this really a trend or is it actually a smart business investment?

Statistics are showing that staged homes sell about 50% faster than non-staged homes and for an average increase in price of 6.9%. Okay, so what does all that really mean in dollars and cents? Let's take the average selling price of a Nanaimo home (as of this summer) at $350,000 and spend the recommended 1% to stage for sale. Now, if this house sold for the average increase in value of 6.9% that would be a $24,150 gain. Minus your staging investment of $3,500 and your total profit would be a stunning $20,650 or an unbelievable Return on Investment of 600% in only one month! Try to do that in the stock market! Now factor in your time (time is money) and efforts of maintaining your home in "show" condition while it sits on the market for many months and Staging for a fast sale really becomes a lucrative business investment.

Forward thinking Realtors like Remax's Rhonda Heaslip believe that Home Staging is the way of the future and often offer it as a value added service to their clients.

"In my experience, it is far easier to sell a home that has been properly staged and presented", says Rhonda. "These homes generally will move more quickly and for a better price and are perceived as better cared for by the prospective buyers. My advice is: fix it, stage it, and sell it."

Rhonda knows that you don't have to break the budget to have a dramatic improvement. A young couple in Ladysmith had a very tight budget but knew they needed help. Rhonda arranged for them to have a consultation to give them the tools they needed to get started. With only $500 and the help of friends and family they painted walls, installed new light fixtures, hung new drapes, and added accessories as suggested by their staging consultant.

"I couldn't believe the difference," Rhonda said. "This place is so cute now."

Before

After

(Far too much furniture and clutter made this Living Room seem cramped and uncomfortable. By clearing out the clutter, re-arranging the furniture and adding lighter drapes and modern accessories - this room feels larger and more inviting.)

If your target market is the out of town buyer a "Photo Styling" might be all that you need. A north Nanaimo home we visited recently looked great but lacked the extra attention to detail that makes a picture on the MLS stand above the rest. With a few accessories, some mood lighting and the eye of a professional photographer both master bedroom and ensuite bathroom became sexy, romantic retreats. For just a few hundred dollars a "mini stage" was performed on the critical areas to be photographed. These photos attracted Calgary buyers and very quickly multiple offers were received. You only get one chance to make a great first impression - you want to make it count.

Before

After

Before

After

Even a Full Stage, including painting, repairs, and furniture rental does not have to be expensive and in fact, when you consider the alternatives, it becomes quite a bargain. This lovely Brechin Bungalow had been sitting empty on the market for 4 months without a single offer written. Although the house was in great condition, perspective buyers were turned off by some exposed wires and the feeling that there was too much work to do. In order to avoid a substantial price reduction the owners decided to have the home staged. It took a couple of weeks and approximately $3000 dollars to change the home from empty and unloved to warm and welcoming. It sold for almost full asking price in the first week!

Before	After 1
	After 2

(Buyers have difficulty imaging how their furniture will fit into an empty space. Placing appropriate but neutral furnishings helps them to "mentally move in.)

With Real Estate prices soaring and the family home being the single biggest asset most of us own, it is critical to get the highest possible price when you sell. Staging could be your best investment yet. Spend a little to earn a lot!

Written by

Pam Moreside

Center Stage Design

Sold in One Day for $6,000 over Asking Price

Pam Moreside (Seize the Day - Rent to Own) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:46:14 -0800

This Nanaimo family home sold in just one day for $6,000 over asking Price!

The owners were thrilled as they had been transferred to another town and had to leave in two weeks. In addition, they had three young children and keeping a listed house in spotless condition for ANY length of time when you have young ones is next to impossible.

As they say: action speaks louder than words. Proof positive that home staging WORKS!

Bedroom Before

Bedroom After

Dining Room Before

Dinng Room After

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Dining/Living After

"Thanks for the great job staging our home. I think that the only reason our home sold in 1 day was because of the realtor and the home staging. You ladies were absolutely wonderful. I really think everyone should stage their home for selling."

March 2008
Trista Rommerdahl

Home Staging: More Important Now than Ever Before

Pam Moreside (Seize the Day - Rent to Own) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:34:26 -0800

The market has finally changed, as we all knew someday it would. If you are a seller who's buying into the current media hype, you may be frightened into believing that your home will never sell or it is worth only a fraction of its former value. While this market does definitely favour the buyer, it is still possible to sell your home for a good price.

Now having said that, one must understand that effective marketing is crucial in this market. . This is not the time to test the market with an inflated price because that is what the neighbour got back in May. Sharp pricing and proper presentation are essential now. Professional staging can make all the difference in helping one house to stand out above another.

Statistics show that staged homes sell faster and for higher prices than homes that are put on the market "as is". A small investment in staging can make a significant difference in the outcome of a sale.

It is true that people shop with logic and buy with emotion. Staged homes help buyers connect with your home by envisioning the lifestyle they will enjoy there. In this market buyers have plenty of time to shop around and do not feel compelled to make a hasty decision. This is good news for the seller who has done his homework and ensured his home is the one that will linger in the mind of the buyer.

Keep in mind - this is not a bad market. It is simply a buyers market. Give the buyer what they want - a nice home, in good condition, properly presented, for a reasonable price and you will have a successful sale.

Pam

CREATING A HEALTHY HOME AND ENVIRONMENT

Pam Moreside (Seize the Day - Rent to Own) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:20:37 -0800

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

By Pam Moreside

Do you know the size of your ecological footprint?

There are many reasons to consider our lifestyle's effect on our environment both within our own homes and to our planet. One reason is that our rate of consumption is exceeding our earth's sustainability. In Oakland California an organization called Redefining Progress devised a method to calculate our ecological footprint by counting resources used with waste produced to determine the amount of land required to sustain each person. They found that 4.5 acres of biologically productive land is needed for each person. While some countries, India for example, use far less, the "average world citizen" is calculated to use 5.6 acres while other countries like the US are using up to 24 acres per person! In other words, we are consuming beyond our means and the resources necessary for our survival are running out!

Another cause for concern is the harm we are causing to our health. Sick Building Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are just two of the many new illness which have proliferated since the 1980's and 90's. Although the origins are often as difficult to determine as the illnesses themselves are to diagnose they are very real indeed.

Citizens of the industrialized world now spend up to ninety percent of our time indoors, more than at any other time in our history. The computer has probably had the biggest impact - allowing us to "stay connected" to the outside world without having to leave our homes. Also the great energy crunch of the past few decades has encouraged us to seal our homes so tightly that ventilation is compromised and pent up gasses and chemicals mix to form what could be a deadly combination. Without warning smells to alert us of the danger initial feelings of malaise, fatigue, headaches, nausea and a host of other apparently minor complaints could actually be symptoms of poisoning leading to cancers and other serious illnesses. Toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and vinyl chlorides can be emitted from cleaning materials, flooring and wall coverings, plywood and particleboards, and paints and stains to name just a few. Radon gas and carbon monoxide can leak from malfunctioning appliances and virulent moulds and dust mites proliferate in cozy carpeted environments. So, rather than leave the house, never to return, what we can do to create a healthy environment in our homes without further compromising our earth?

Renovating an existing home is probably the easiest, least expensive and most environmentally friendly way to make improvements. It takes approximately fifty trees to build the average new home yet perfectly sound homes are being demolished every day in our quest to start "new". Using local materials reduces costs and the negative impact of transporting goods. Recycling from demolition sites and building in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are also good places to start. Light, heat and air are serious considerations, which have huge impact in our home environment and to the earth's resources.

To increase light without increasing energy consumption consider installing skylights and keeping to an open floor plan. Small closed rooms require more artificial light. Hard finishes and light coloured surfaces reflect more light than dark surfaces so should be used in areas that receive natural sunlight. Mirrors, windows, and higher ceilings all give a feeling of more space and light.

The sun can also provide us with free heat. Adding a south facing sunroom with a glass front will provide heat to that room and spill into the rest of the house through open doors. A stone wall or flooring in this room will retain the heat for many hours after sunset. Living roofs made of sod, grasses and plants increase insulation, are beautiful to look at and can even put food on the table.

"The better the ventilation the healthier the home," according to Alan Berman in his book Your Naturally Healthy Home. Toxic gasses must have somewhere to go if we are to stay healthy. Open windows bring in fresh air and when positioned high also draw stale air out without creating a draft. Triple glazed windows and air stripping at doors is great for fuel efficiency but air must be allowed to circulate. Use breathable finishing materials whenever possible and don't forget the plants. Plants are effective in absorbing many household emissions like carbon monoxide, benzene, and xylene, often produced by carpeting. They also increase indoor humidity and add colour and beauty.

Choosing environmentally friendly finishing materials is the best way to ensure a healthy home and planet. Walls and floors cover the largest square footage so therefore have the biggest impact. Let us take a look at some of the flooring choices.

Carpet:
-Emits toxic gasses from petrochemicals and harbors moulds and mites.
-Synthetic and chemically treated carpets (like stain guard) are not biodegradable and end up in landfills.
-Backing and underlay are treated with carcinogenic chemicals like styrene butadiene, also not biodegradable
-All carpets are manufactured in pollution producing industrial factories emitting dangerous chemicals to the earth's atmosphere.
-Natural fibers and "organic" carpets made from plant, vegetable, and animal yarns are options and becoming more readily available but manufacturing and disposal are still issues to be resolved.

Hardwoods:
-Beautiful and long lasting
-Trees take years to mature and harvesting old growth forests destroy both the land and its habitat as well as damage our biosphere.
- Most hardwood comes from Africa, South and Central America, and Southeast Asia. Transportation involves burning vast amounts of fossil fuels
-Consider locally harvested, fast growing, medium density woods like alder

Stone:
-Beautiful and environmentally friendly flooring material.
-Supply is plentiful, requires little energy to use, does not pollute in production or end use and is recyclable. -One caution: check quarrying methods and ensure the stone you choose is not being depleted.
- Whenever possible opt for stone quarried close to home

Ceramic Bricks and Tiles:
-Beautiful, abundant, easy to process in either small wood fired kilns or large commercial gas fired kilns.
-When left with a natural finish they are breathable, create little pollution to produce and are safe to the indoor environment.
- Vast variety to choose from
- Can be reused in mosaics or other decorative applications

Bamboo:
-Looks similar to wood but grows six times faster on otherwise unusable land and does not require pesticides or fertilizers.
-Harvesting this plentiful resource is easy and helps to support the economies of developing countries
-New developments in finishes are producing very beautiful fine grain looks
-Watch that harmful finishes and adhesives are not used during installation.
-Transportation concerns are still and issue

Cork:
-Completely sustainable - harvested from live trees that regenerate growth within nine years.
-Naturally water-resistant so stands up well in bathrooms.
-Warmer and softer than linoleum it rates high for indoor air quality as long as solvent free finishes are used.
- Shows wear easily so use caution in high traffic areas

Recycled flooring:
-Wood and tiles are often easily available. Watch newspapers for notices of demolitions or shop at recycling stores such as Demex in Coombs, Syds Demo Salvage in Victoria, or the Restore in Nanaimo.
-Second Wind Timber in Vancouver, The Rediscovered Wood Floor Company in the Nicola Valley, and Coast EcoTimber in Vancouver all specialize in Reclaimed Wood salvaged from old commercial and residential buildings.
-Reclaimed wood is beautiful, often from extinct exotic wood, and comes with its own rich and unique history like an old barn or factory, fish plant or heritage building.

Choices for wall finishes include:
Vinyl Wallpaper:
-Made from petrochemicals and uses dangerous plasticizers, chlorines, inks and dyes in processing.
-Can off-gas into rooms causing sick building syndrome and development of allergies

Grasscloth and other natural fiber wall coverings:
-Watch backing material, many use synthetics
-May require harmful gas emitting glues to apply creating poor indoor air quality. Ask for low VOC glues
-wallpapers making a big comeback in Interior Design, many beautiful designs to choose from

Clay Plasters:
-Requires no energy to process, is stable and biodegradable.
-Versatile - can be applied rough or smooth or poured into forms to create flowing surfaces
-Attractive natural colours mean paint is not necessary.
-Sound absorbent yet breathable.
- Excellent choice if you can find a contractor experienced in this old style

Paint:
-Inexpensive, easy to apply, and can create a dramatic change to a space.
-Synthetic solvent based paints are manufactured using highly dangerous chemicals, need more chemicals to clean during and after application and are difficult to dispose of safely.
-Chose water based latex paints or white wash and milk paints made from natural materials such as lime, chalk, and linseed oil or even organic paints made from vegetables and minerals.
-new low VOC paints are much improved and widely available - every paint store now carries a line

We can't change the whole world overnight but we must not lose sight of what we can do to protect our health, our earth and our environment. Starting with the environment over which we have the most control, our home, can be relatively easy, inexpensive and fun to do. Informed decisions regarding the materials we chose for our homes will have far reaching benefits as we reap the rewards of better health and strive to lessen the load of our own footprint on this earth.

To check the size of your footprint go to:
www.myfootprint.org

Home Staging - It Works!

Pam Moreside (Seize the Day - Rent to Own) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:57:42 -0800

Co-Written by Deena DeVito-Carl of Urban Peridot Design and Pam Moreside of Center Stage Design

Think back to the last time you were looking for a home to buy. Remember how disappointed you were? The listings always sounded great on paper, but you were invariably disappointed each time you arrived at that boring little place that didn't look anything like the listing photo. With bad décor, too much clutter, and even unpleasant odors, each time you saw something it made you say "no thank you"! Finally, after near exhaustion from looking, you stumble upon the perfect home for you...the place you can easily envision yourself moving into and creating a happy, peaceful life. You quickly make an offer!

This is what home staging is all about! And this is why Home Staging works! Not only do staged homes sell faster than non-staged homes but they sell for higher prices. Why? Because people can not see potential in a home. They see it the way it is. If it is cluttered to bursting, stuffed with personal momentos, or a boring empty shell - that is what they will see. This is why developers use model homes, fully furnished down to the most beautiful detail. They help buyers envision themselves moving into this carefully crafted environment.

People buy with emotion and selling lifestyle is the best way to tap into that emotion. Got a bathroom? Who doesn't? But turn that bathroom into oasis of calm, your own personal spa retreat and you could have a buyer. It's not difficult or expensive. Add some new fluffy towels in co-coordinating colours, a nice basket stuffed with pampering toiletries, some candles sitting on the tub - you get the idea - it's all about setting the scene.

Now - tapping into a buyers emotion is what will help you to sell; not being able to step back from your own emotion can keep your listing languishing on the market for eternity. That collection of beer steins from around the world, the family photo gallery that dates back six generations, the stuffed animal collection that you still love - even though you are forty, they can cost you a sale. Professional stagers can be objective about your home because they have no emotional attachment to it. They can quickly identify the problems and transform a cluttered, cramped room into a spacious and functional room without breaking the bank. They can also help you chose new paint colours (yes, sometimes you do have to paint before you go) dress up, or down, existing furnishings and re-arrange rooms to make them appear larger and brighter. In fact, it may end up looking so good, that you decide to stay.

Where do you find a reputable home stager? This is an important question! Staging is a non-regulated industry. There is no licensing board and no legally recognized certification or accreditation. If a home staging professional claims to be accredited, they simply mean that they have taken one of a variety of courses that provide a certificate of completion that refers to that person being an accredited member. Research your home stager as you would any professional that you hire. Ask to see their portfolio, check that the pictures are of actual jobs that they have done, and ask for references. Your home stager should charge for their consultation fee. A proper consultation takes a couple of hours. A free estimates is most likely going to be little more that a meet and greet - you will have to pay for any real work that is to be done anyway. Discuss the process, find out what they are going to provide and what it will cost and get it in writing so there are no surprise fees in the future.

Here are some quick tips to help you get started to set the stage for a quick sale:

Adjust your Attitude
- You must now look at your house in a new way - it is a product to be sold
- Consider that your home's value is most likely your biggest asset and therefore must be maximized
- Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours
Fix it First
- Home repairs need to be done before your home goes on the market. Don't wait for deficiencies to show up on the buyer's inspection and kill a good offer. Do the work now and rest easy knowing your home is in top condition.
Curb Appeal
- You only have one chance to make a good first impression and this is it! If the buyer doesn't like what he or she sees from the outside they will simply drive to the next house and you will never get them back.
- Make sure lawns are freshly mowed, and leaves are raked.
- Consider adding a potted or hanging plant near the front door.
- Make sure the front entrance is clean and swept.
- Check the condition of your paint, could it use a quick spruce up?
Clutter
- Pick one area at a time so it's not too overwhelming. Take each item and ask yourself if you really need it. You may want to put items not used often into a storage locker. Your home stager can recommend one.
Let there be light
- Often houses (especially in our climate) can look dark and dingy. Invest in some lighting that will brighten the space or consider repainting a lighter colour to maximize the look of space.
Add life to your space
- Adding plants or fresh flowers can add life to a space. Ask your local florist which flowers will last a week or more so you aren't spending a fortune replacing them.
Clean, clean, and then clean again!
- This cannot be overstressed! Your house must be sparkling clean to attract a buyer. Hire a professional to come in and clean for you while your house is on the market. Not having the time to make a house spic and span can cost you a lot more than hiring a cleaner.

So whatever your situation: be it buyer or seller, being armed with the facts will help you to make the best decisions to maximize your profits and keep your dollars in your pockets! Best of luck!

Home Staging Helps Sales

Pam Moreside (Seize the Day - Rent to Own) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:52:05 -0800

Published: July 25, 2008 3:00 PM

KAILEY WILLETS/The News Bulletin

Updated: July 25, 2008 3:12 PM

Creating the right atmosphere inside and out can help sell a house quicker, maximize selling price

You've probably heard the term home staging before.

It's all the rage in the Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver real estate industries. But you don't need to be selling a home in a busy metropolis to benefit from home staging - two Nanaimo women offer services that will help your home sell faster and for more money.

Pam Moreside, of Center Stage, and Ilona Beedie, of First Stage Transformations, have been working together to help homes sell in Nanaimo for almost two years.

"What home staging is, is the process of merchandising a house for a profitable real estate sale," said Moreside. "It's not personal. It's not designed for the homeowners' needs and wants."

As Nanaimo real estate swings from a sellers' market to a buyers' market and homeowners find themselves reducing asking prices, Beedie and Moreside said home staging is becoming increasingly important.

"People have to realize that right now it is of the essence to make your house stand out from the crowd and to do that, you have to stage," said Beedie. "We really want to bring it across that staging is way cheaper than your first house reduction."

Moreside said when it comes to selling a house, owners shouldn't just throw it on the market and see what happens.

"Their home is generally the biggest asset that most people have. When they go to sell it it's really essential that they get the highest possible price," she said. "Stage it, then put it on the market.

Home staging can be as simple as rearranging furniture and adding accessories, or as involved as bringing in rental furniture to completely makeover a room.

Costs can range from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars.

"It doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg," said Beedie.

Moreside and Beedie said their results are proof that staging works.

One house sold two days after staging for $7,000 more than the asking price. Another sold the evening after listing at $6,000 more than what was asked.

During a consultation, the stagers give homeowners a priority list of things they should change in order to sell their home. Then, homeowners have the option of preparing their home themselves.

"We've found that homeowners are very successful with that," said Moreside.

The stagers have a few basic tips for every home going on the market. Curb appeal is at the top of the list.

"You've got to make it so that people want to go inside your house," said Beedie.

They suggest painting your front door a vibrant colour to add some ‘wow' factor. It's also important to declutter, depersonalize and make sure everything is sparkling clean and smells fresh.

A less obvious tip is to clear out your closet space.

"One of the biggest things homeowners are looking for these days is storage," said Moreside.

One thing Moreside said she found alarming is hearing that some of her customers nearly went to Vancouver to find home staging companies, which would have resulted in large transportation fees. Nanaimo home wners are catching on to home staging, but might not realize they can find it here.

"We're here. We're established." said Moreside.

Beedie is a Certified International Staging and Redesign Professional and Moreside holds a degree in Interior Design from Malaspina.

For more information on home staging, please contact Ilona Beedie at 250-619-6082 or Pam Moreside at 250-729-1411 or visit their websites - www.nanaimohomestaging.com and www.centerstagedsn.ca.

editor@nanaimobulletin.com

Colour Trends for 2009/2010

Pam Moreside (Seize the Day - Rent to Own) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:36:17 -0800

This fall I attended the Colour Trends 2009/2010 Event, hosted by General Paint. It was by invitation only for design professionals to give them the inside track on what is absolutely the latest in colour trends that we will be seeing in the next two years.

This next generation of colour trends, reflecting our global outlook and our connection and responsibility to our environment, has been named Inspiring Cultures, and includes four distinct colour palettes.

1. Connected

This palette takes its cue from the front row of the catwalk creating a synergy between fashion and interior design. It uses classic colour in a newer, more urban way, for a clean, upscale look. Matte blacks, dove grays, steel gray and subtle but warm lavender form the core of this group.

2. Emerging

With a nod to global travel this group embraces the variety of cultures and peoples that make up this world. Marigold yellow and apple green mix with tangerine and raspberry. Think of Mexico, Thailand and India.

3. Revitalized

Inspired by nature and the environment, this palette designed to soothe and calm the soul, offers luscious greens, played against cooling blues, and sandy neutrals.

4. Futurist

Not for the faint of heart this group was picked to stimulate and challenge our norms. It is dynamic and will demand attention. Best used for accent areas or as accessories. The hues are clear and bright tones of orange, green, purple, blue, and pink.

To date none of the colours have been named, they are identified only by call numbers and are only available through your design professional. For more information or to schedule your professional colour consultation call 250-729-1411 today and ask to see the new 2010 colour palette! Be the first on your block to showcase your home in colours straight off the runways of Paris and Milan!

By Pam Moreside